HEALTH By Jamie Lober In light of World AIDS Day on December 1, it is timely to acknowledge a valuable community resource, the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center in Wilton Manors. Open since March of 2014, it is the only museum in the world dedicated to HIV/AIDS, which has had a profound effect on South Floridians. “South Florida is the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic,” says Ed Sparan, the museum’s operations manager. “Of all brand-new HIV infections in the country, Broward County is number one, Miami-Dade County is number two, and Palm Beach County is number six.” “In our main gallery we have the history of HIV/AIDS with a timeline exhibit that traces the history back to 1908 as how AIDS started as a monkey virus, SIV [Simian Immune Virus,] in the Congo,” continues Sparan. “Now there are new medications and hope for the future.” Striving to get out the facts, the museum encourages everyone to get tested and know their status. “If you are negative, that is great and you should keep doing the good work you are doing,” says Sparan, adding that one of out of every five people with HIV in Broward is unaware of his/her status. “If you are positive, that is okay, but you should get the right doctor and you will be fine.” Nursing and social work students are drawn to the museum, as is everyone who wants an education in this important topic. One-hour docent-led tours explain the museum’s exhibits. World Aids Museum and Educational Center An Important Community Resource There are two wonderful art galleries: one with educational art from talented high school students; the other, called Owning Up, about young and HIV positive people and how they have an entirely different perspective than the older generation. “There is the stigma and rejection part of it, but talking to the youth, they deal with it in a whole different way that is so uplifting,” explains Sparan. The only such museum in the world exists in Broward County, bringing knowledge and enlightenment to a disease with profound implications for our populace. The ten-year ribbon exhibit has drawn a lot of attention. “I saved my HIV medicine bottles for ten years and created a fivefoot ribbon that has 417 medicine bottles,” says Sparan. “People who are twenty- or thirty-year survivors see the mass or enormity of their personal situation.” His own involvement with the museum evolved out of a personal issue. “I came to the project because there was a support group called POZitive Attitudes and the founder, Steve Stagon, said he wanted to open up an AIDS museum,” explains Sparan. It took around four years to pull it together and then the doors were open. “We have volunteers at the front desk and people come in to see our exhibits, learn, and get assistance,” says Sparan, who adds that parties and fundraisers are part of the museum’s activities. The facts about the disease are daunting. “Since 1981, 75 million people have been affected and 39 million people have died of AIDS,” says Sparan. “We steer people toward free testing and things they need to know.” The museum is thrilled to have a contract with the Broward County School system. Sparan says that representatives of the museum will shortly begin to present a 90-minute safe sex education program in the schools. Students will come to the museum on class trips. HIV/AIDS, considered a world epidemic, can affect anyone. World AIDS Day, which began in 1988, is the first globally honored health day. It is a time to show a united front in the fight against the disease, support for people living with it, and commemorate those who have died from it. “This is not a gay man’s disease anymore and it affects every community out there, even the seniors,” says Sparan. “We would love to have all the help we can, as far as donations and volunteers. If anybody has questions, we are a safe place for you to come and learn a thing or two about how to make better personal choices in your life.” For more information, visit www.worldaidsmuseum.com. P Jamie Lober is a nationally recognized writer who specializes in health/lifestyle. PHOTOS COURTESY STEVEN SHIRE PHOTOGRAPHY 102 DECEMBER 2015
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